Health Care and Politics

A book about whats not working in Canadian health care institutions and how to fix it Drawing on 40 years running many Canadian health care institutions, David Levine shares his experience on how to manage in this very complex environment. His career includes implementing one of the first Local Community Health Centres (CLSCs) in Montreal in the 1970s, involvement in electoral politics, managing various Qubec hospitals, his controversial hiring as head of the Ottawa Hospital, a term as Qubec Delegate General in New York City, a stint as junior minister of health in Qubec, and running the Montreal regional health authority under both Parti-Qubcois and Liberal governments. His experience with politicsboth personal and professionalis the basis of his analysis of the impact of politics on health care. Levine supports without qualification a public, universal health care system, but he questions the effectiveness of managing the system from the Ministers Office. Poor decision-making on the basis of politics often means best solutions are not implemented. Levines analysis includes what is not working and how to fix it, and the barriers to implementation. Health Care and Politics will be of interest to health care managers, health care policymakers, and all Canadians seeking a better understanding of the health care system and what it will take to fix it.